Page 11 of The Aries Alliance (BLP Signs of Love #14)

Dismantling

For the next hour, I connected with an intense, bold woman who matched every bit of my alpha energy.

She wanted justice as much as I did, and it turned me on.

Her passion also made me want to protect her, much like I would my sister or mother.

Control was my middle name, but for the first time in years, a part of my life was unscripted.

Scarlett and I sat side by side on the comfortable brown leather couch in the spacious den of the cottage. She kicked off her nude heels, revealing pretty feet I wanted to lift to my lap and rub before the night ended.

Soft white lights from the side table lamps created a cool vibe that energized me despite the lateness of the night. Live vines filled the room, also relaxing me.

I propped my legal pad on my lap and tapped my pen on it.

“Let’s start by getting into each other’s heads. What are your actual beliefs about what’s going on at EFU? Why do you push so hard against such a resistant system, knowing you may be the sacrificial lamb?”

Scarlett held a miniature bottle of water in both hands and nodded before answering.

“When so many people had been hurt for decades, somebody has to take them down.”

“Why do you think someone hasn’t done it already?”

Scarlett shrugged.

“I dunno. Maybe no one tried. Or they’re scaredy cats. Or maybe dang crabs in a barrel. Maybe they’re like you, sitting their fake asses in offices thinking the system was built for them to thrive.”

I was offended but pushed my displeasure down so Scarlett would continue.

“You know how it is. Give Black folks a little power, then they’re itchin’ to throw another melanated person who calls the system out under the bus. Too many of us are poor stewards of the pioneering efforts of those who came before us.”

“But you’re Harriet Tubman.”

Scarlett stilled.

“It’s funny you say that. I bet she and all the abolitionist ancestors are looking down on our current crop of leaders and frowning.

Doggone idiots are modern-day overseers in systems that murder the bodies and spirits of our people.

I wish the ghosts of every person who was falsely accused of a crime would come back and haunt the hell out of those cowards.

Maybe then we’d stop expecting fake promises to manifest.” Scarlett’s chest rose and fell as if she’d run a marathon.

Something about her passion made me want to cover her and lift up her little dress to see how excited she could be if I stimulated her in other ways.

I pushed her water toward her lips, signaling for her to take a sip. She gulped it before resting it in her lap. She turned toward me with downturned eyes.

“I feel really isolated at work, like no one’s trying to follow rules. Pushing against the system feels like the right thing, no, humane thing, to do. And it’s all I know.” She took a deep breath.

“I get it. There’s a lot of red tape to protect the organization. We don’t do a great job centering people.”

When I said that, she tilted her head and dropped her shoulders. Instead of the steely gaze from the morning, her eyes softened.

“How do you sleep at night knowing you’re working in a place that has no real intention to uplift our people? EFU is willing to sacrifice those who try to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing. Why be an overseer in such a rotten place?”

I reached for Scarlett’s hand and held it as I spoke.

“To make a living.”

When she frowned at me, I said, “I’m kidding. It’s more than that. Liberation means different things to different people. Although we, as a people, are highly educated and have come a long way since slavery and the Civil Rights movement, we aren’t free.”

Scarlett nodded.

“Yeah. Fear keeps us bound.”

“Exactly! Although I started my HR job wanting vengeance, I soon realized that if policies were applied the right way, they would save lives. Make people less fearful. That’s the version of human resources I believe in. I want to see procedural justice implemented in our lifetime.”

Scarlett gave me a thumbs up.

“Agreed. A lot of folks at EFU play by corrupt rules and manipulate the system for clout. I’m tired of rotten apples throwing me under the bus.” Scarlett poked her lips out.

I rested my hand over hers.

“I get it. That’s another reason I want us to work together. It’s time, as my dad says, ‘to take back what the enemy stole from you.’ No one can erase you or your work if you don’t allow it to happen.”

Scarlett sighed.

“That sounds good, but I’m not so sure.”

“I want you to walk fully in your Harriet Tubman calling so we can do good work together.”

“It does sound like liberation, at least the way Black feminist Audre Lorde talks about it. She says we’ll never be able to dismantle the master’s house from within. So, you’re front and center in the master’s house, yet you’re trying to tear it down?”

I shook my head.

“No, Scarlett. I just want to take every tool I can and build new houses for people who never thought they could own property. Sometimes it’s enough to lay a solid foundation for others to build upon.”

Scarlett beamed.

“If you ever run for President of the United States, I’d love to be your campaign manager. God knows we need better leadership in DC.”

I winked at her.

“Let’s work on EFU first, then we can talk.”

I loved that Scarlett could joke despite the previous concern resting behind her almond-shaped eyes.

When we finally settled down and got to work, I stole glances at her. She furrowed her brow as we listed our strengths and opportunities. Each time she wrote something new on the oversized sticky note before us and pointed to our similarities, she bit her lower lip.

“I love that we’re both strategic.” Her eyes darted across the paper on the table.

I pulled a permanent marker from my work bag and put stars beside each of our best characteristics. Scarlett pointed to the word teamwork and smiled.

“Teamwork is about getting to know your people. This is a serious mission, so we need to trust each other. You know it’s about more than the plan, right?” Her eyes met mine.

“Yes. It’s about being attuned to each other at all times.”

Scarlett placed her hands in her lap and studied my face.

I picked up a glass of water and sipped it, raising my eyebrows.

“What is it?”

She shifted her body.

“You’re not as gruff as I thought. This version of you, . . . War, . . . is charming, disarming, and very stealthy.” She gestured up and down my body.

I wrote those words down on my side of the paper, using the time to compose myself as Scarlett’s assessment warmed me from the inside out. I chimed in with my impression of her too.

“You’re disarming and analytical. I’ve never met anyone who was able to use data to break down an argument and highlight how policies have been violated.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m not afraid of white people. Or as bell hooks calls it, the white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy.”

My eyes widened at how blunt and informed Scarlett was when she shared her views. Few people in my professional circle read critical race literature, so racialized, gendered, and sexualized issues weren’t table talk. Even during Black History Month, EFU leaders wouldn’t use the word Black.

Scarlett eyed me with caution.

“Are you cool with that?”

I nodded and wrote her bell hooks phrase on the note before closing the cap on the marker and holding it with my thumb.

“Yeah. You’re like a modern-day abolitionist. We’ll have to figure out how to leverage your knowledge within our overall strategy. Like you, I’m pro-Black and down for our people.”

Scarlett looked back at the paper, this time giving me a tempting view of her elongated neck.

“We both have gifts of influence. I’m on the outside. You’re on the inside.” Scarlett pointed between us. “I can rally the people who haven’t been listened to or protected.”

“And I’ll gather intel on people trying to destroy careers simply because they can.”

“We can then give them a heads up so they can seek legal counsel or get out before they’re fired.”

I tapped on the sticky note with my fingers.

“Exactly.”

We stared at each other as electricity filled the air. It wasn’t just our minds being in sync. Scarlett’s shiny lips and sultry vanilla scent drew my attention, causing me to reach behind her ear and stroke her cheek with my thumb.

“I guess this is what it means to be on one accord.”

“Yes.” She lifted her hand and placed it over mine briefly before releasing it and returning her eyes to the paper.

Instead of doing the same, I studied her profile a few more seconds.

Scarlett bent low to pick up a marker that fell on the floor.

“Ow . . .” She twisted her body and winced.

I instinctively reached for her and felt those hard ridges again.

“Do you need to take this off? It’s obviously too tight.”

She shook her head.

“I’m okay. Let’s finish this so I can relax. It’s been a long day.”

I picked up the marker and bit the tip before placing it on the table.

Scarlett rubbed her ribcage again and then clasped her fingers together. Although I wanted to reprimand her again, I held my tongue.

“We need to look at our plan holistically. We can’t change how we move too much, or people will be suspicious.”

“I agree. As always, I’ll take copious notes behind closed doors. We can connect via these.” I reached for my bag and pulled out two small burner phones.

When I handed one to Scarlett, she turned it around in her hand and turned it on.

“This is kind of old school.”

“But it’ll keep us safe since EFU is a public school subjected to public records requests. Use it or message me on social media. Here’s your phone’s password. Don’t lose it.” I handed her a pink sticky note with a five-digit code.

Scarlett put the paper inside her bra and set the phone on the table.

When she started rubbing her upper body again, I pointed toward the bedrooms, knowing Scarlett was too stubborn to admit she was in pain.

“It’s getting late. Why don’t you get settled in your room? Yours is the big one at the end.”

“Sounds good.”

When she rose, I followed suit.

“Do you want me to clean up the kitchen?” She pointed behind us.

“No. I’ve got it. I’m a night owl, so I’m going to binge-watch Barbeque Champions . Grilling is my guilty pleasure. You’re welcome to join me.”

Scarlett chuckled, then scratched her temple.

“You, Warrick Redmond, never cease to amaze me.”

“Why’s that?”

Scarlett picked up her phone and then looked back at me.

“Because every time I think I have you figured out, you change.”

“You don’t strike me as a woman who likes monotony, so it’s my pleasure to switch things up.”

“What makes you think you know me so well?”

I smiled and squeezed Scarlett’s hand.

“It’s my training.”

Scarlett stared at me and held her mouth as if she wanted to say something more. Instead, she gave me a faint smile and stood, cleaning up our materials and eventually retiring to her room down the dark hall.

When Scarlett left, I cleaned up the kitchen, reflecting on her words and how isolated she was in her social justice work.

From our time alone, I felt her authenticity and the depth of her love for people.

She wasn’t pretentious or fake, which was a green flag for our mission.

That was refreshing after working in corporate spaces where many people undermined others to get ahead.

After the hell she went through, Scarlett deserved to thrive. In the report, people praised her for being courageous, confirming that her values were exponentially stronger and purer than anyone with whom they ever worked. She was too good for EFU.

Today, Scarlett Kane was more than an employee. In her eyes, I saw hurt and apprehension. All she needed was someone to care and cheer her on, someone with power to cover her as she fulfilled her God-given mission.

That person would be me.